Friday, June 13, 2008

Sabah Trip

Two weeks ago I was invited to Sabah to survey and check whether the place was feasible for swiftlet farming. The vegetation was wonderful, it certainly passed the 1st criteria. Rivers, mountains and hills, valleys, etc. Plentiful of food for the swiftlets if a farm is to be built here the growth of swiflet in the farm will be fast.

It was a good location. If the right way is to be implemented then it will be very potential and obviously the 1st who build the farm here gets the pioneer status.


Above is the sound test , the tweeters were displayed on the car bonnet in few directions, it was a rough and tough 4w drive so no Styrofoam was needed to protect it from scratches.

We tested the sound of house AF ( domesticated, which I call : A. fuciphagus-fuciphagus) collaborated with the sound of Sriti ( collucalia) as well as cave AF. The birds responded well and they don't leave even when the sky gets dark. We pushed further to see their respond even when we decided to pack our stuff, it was already almost 8pm ( in Sabah Its like 9pm here) the birds still circling above and tried to find the source of sound. It was wonderful. (with the understanding of the soon to be farm's owner I am not allowed to post the pictures of the birds here, Sorry readers).


The location is in the middle of the Oil palm estate. A stand alone 3 storey swiftlet friendly farm will be built here . Look at the green here!



All have to be done is a correct design of a farm that will take consideration of the birds flying path internally and externally (micro & macro) and the kacasusu those from KPW know what I mean. (for newbies you may email me I will explain).



This river is just 2 km away from the location that the new farm is going to be built. Everything is in one basket except for now are the farm ( well design one), a good sound and without forgetting the Birds.


This is a Belian tree, it is the hardest wood in the forest. The name says it all. Even after hundred years if you cut it, the inside still look new and its 100% termite proof. The owner asked me could he use this type of wood for planking? I replied certainly, if you don't mind the cost.

Currently, if I am not mistaken it is USD $8k per ton.